meek

When someone is meek, they are quiet, gentle, and not likely to fight for attention or power. The word often suggests humility and softness, and sometimes it also suggests that a person is too willing to give in. So meek can be positive or slightly critical, depending on the situation.

You might describe a child with a soft voice and calm manners as meek, or say someone gave a meek reply when they sounded shy and unsure. In older and religious writing, the word can carry the idea of quiet inner strength. In everyday English, though, it usually points first to a gentle, modest, somewhat submissive manner.

"Meek" describes someone who is quiet, gentle, humble, and not forceful in the way they deal with other people. A meek person usually does not argue, boast, or push to control a situation. Instead, they tend to be mild in manner and ready to yield. In many cases, the word suggests softness and modesty; in other cases, it can hint that someone is overly submissive or lacks confidence.

The tone of the word matters. Sometimes "meek" is praise. It can describe a person whose gentleness comes from self-control, patience, and humility. This is common in religious or moral writing, especially in the well-known biblical line about "the meek" inheriting the earth. In that setting, the word often suggests quiet strength rather than weakness.

But in everyday use, "meek" can also be less flattering. If you call an employee meek, for example, you may mean they are too timid to speak up. If you describe a reply as meek, you often mean it was soft, hesitant, or lacking firmness. That is why the word sits close to words like "gentle," "mild," and "humble," but can also overlap with "submissive" or "timid," depending on context.

You would use "meek" for people, voices, looks, smiles, replies, or behavior that seem soft and unassertive. A meek smile is small and shy. A meek answer is polite and restrained. A meek person may be kind and calm, but may also seem easy to push around. The word is therefore not exactly the same as "kind" or "peaceful"; it carries the extra idea of low force or low social power.

So when you see "meek," think first of gentleness, humility, and a lack of force. Then let the context tell you whether the writer means admirable quiet strength or a more doubtful kind of submissiveness.